The standard has been raised in the world of bonkers motoring. Behold, the Ariel Atom 500. The Honda inline-four is replaced by a naturally-aspirated 500-hp 3.0-liter V8. Considering the Atom's slightly heavier than an eyelash, this will be spectacular. Updated.

Because a 245-hp Honda VTEC engine was just too boring in a roadgoing tube-frame, a V8 was obviously necessary. Enter the 3.0-liter V8 pushing out a beastly 500-hp. Everything else about the Atom 500 has been turned up as well. There's better aerodynamics, an even more stripped down interior with a paddle-shift transmission, and a bigger price! Oh, wait? There will only be 25 Atom 500's built, most of which are spoken for at a price somewhere north of $200,000. We need a banker's bonus this Christmas.

Update: Lookie what we got, the first look at the Hartley Engineering V8 nestled snugly in the Atom's engine bay. Looks right at home.